Freedom of expression prevails in our society. To keep abreast of times, our school is thinking of having a Wall of Freedom on which students can voice their opinions in writing. The launch of this new measure has aroused a bunch of questions on the abuse of freedom and its effectiveness. In order to decide if it should be put into practice, we have to look into the pros and cons of the Wall of Freedom.
To begin with, the Wall of Freedom can bridge the gap between teachers and us. It is easy for us to think that teachers would turn a deaf ear to our opinions, which in turn obstruct our communication with them. If the Wall of Freedom is open to all the schoolmates, we can have the chance to reflect our views on the school policies and various arrangements. In this regard, teachers and the principal can better understand our real needs. Thus, it is not only effective in enhancing the interaction between teachers and students, but also assists the school in modifying the school policies when we can make constructive suggestions on the Wall. If the Wall of Freedom is used properly, students can build up a sense of belonging to the school in the long term.
The Wall of Freedom can also bring contentment and gains to all the schoolmates. From our point of view, we can open up ourselves and express our feelings. This can encourage us to be more expressive and confident. Also, as we are motivated to review on school arrangement and other social issues, our critical thinking and analytical power can be stimulated. The Wall of Freedom can act as a platform for us to stand up for our voices, providing us with opportunities to explore different fields of concerns.
Nevertheless, the loophole of the proposal is that freedom of expression can possibly be abused and turned to be a weapon for some irresponsible students to bully the vulnerable ones. Without anyone noticing, students may post some offensive comments in others’ name on the Wall. Some of the students may think what they are doing is just for fun, but they are not aware of hurting others verbally. The consequence can be serious because students may be accustomed to shirking their responsibilities for their behavior and speech.
Apart from this problem, some students have formed a habit of using improper languages, such as foul language, MSN English and ‘chiu yu’ when they express themselves in writing. What’s more alarming is that some students may write rude and trashy words on the Wall as they think they have the right to choose how to air their thoughts. If this unhealthy habit is kept by students, it is possible that some can’t even write a complete sentence in a grammatically correct way due to the deteriorating language standard.
Worse still, it is very difficult to check who has written destructive comments or used improper language on the Wall, which makes it tough to punish the students. Teachers can’t possibly supervise all students.
The disadvantages seem to be opposing against setting up the Wall. Yet, if we think about the issue in a deeper sense, a reasonable and balanced solution can still be found. It is our duty to treasure our freedom of expression. Actually, we don’t need any rules imposed by teachers. As a trustworthy student, all of us should exercise self-discipline and think twice before we write on the Wall. We should not write foul language or chiu yu, and most importantly, respect the school for offering us a chance to express our opinions. Also, we should aim at improving the school policies when writing on the Wall, so meaningless gags should be avoided. Last but not least, our school also plays an important role, such as setting a specific theme and questions about current affairs on the Wall of Freedom so that students can be guided to think critically rather than losing track and writing something aimlessly on the Wall.
To conclude, the Wall of Freedom is a good idea which is beneficial to both students and our school if it is utilized in a wise way. As long as we cherish the chances of expressing ourselves in a proper way on the Wall, our school life can be surely enriched!